Asymptomatic Anomalous Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery (ALCAPA) in an Adult
Demetrio Sharp Dimitri1*, Patrick Albertus1, Muhammad Khan1, Andrew Panakos2, Carlos E Alfonso2, Vicente Orozco-Sevilla1
1Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, USA
2Department of Cardiovascular Disease, University of Miami Health, Miami, USA
*Corresponding Author: Demetrio Sharp Dimitri, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, USA
Received: 16 February 2023; Accepted: 12 May 2023; Published: 23 May 2023
Article Information
Citation: Demetrio Sharp Dimitri, Patrick Albertus, Muhammad Khan, Andrew Panakos, Carlos E Alfonso, Vicente Orozco-Sevilla. Asymptomatic Anomalous Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery (ALCAPA) in an Adult. Journal of Surgery and Research. 6 (2023): 215-216.
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Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is considered a rare and very fatal congenital coronary artery anomaly. It is estimated that this congenital abnormality affects 1 of every 300,000 live births and accounts for 0.25% of all congenital heart defects worldwide. ALCAPA manifests itself most commonly in infant population and it has a 1-year mortality rate of approximately 90%, therefore it is not often considered a diagnosis in the adult population [1,2]. When it presents in adult it is considered an important cause of sudden cardiac death [3,4]. We describe a patient in whom this anomaly was diagnosed during cardiac catheterization for evaluation of progressive shortness of breath and mild to moderate mitral regurgitation founded on a transthoracic echocardiogram [5].
Keywords
ALCAPA, Mitral valve regurgitation, Congenital cardiac defect, Coronary anomaly
ALCAPA articles; Mitral valve regurgitation articles; Congenital cardiac defect articles; Coronary anomaly articles
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Article Details
Case
A 58-year-old otherwise hypertensive female that was evaluated because of her progressive shortness of breath and mild to moderate mitral regurgitation founded on a transthoracic echocardiogram. Her physical examination showed a regular heart rate and rhythm, with normal heart sounds with an II/III holosystolic systolic murmur on the 4th intercostal midclavicular line, no rubs or gallops were present on auscultation. No lower extremity pitting edema was noticed. Electrocardiography showed normal sinus rhythm and criteria and possible left ventricular hypertrophy. Stress Echocardiogram with no evidence of ischemia and preserved left ventricular function with an ejection fraction of 55-60%, left atrium dilated with mild to moderate mitral regurgitation. Patient underwent a coronary catheterization which indicated no evidence of obstructive coronary disease, normal left ventricular function with mild to moderate mitral insufficiency. Angiography of the right coronary artery showed a very large and tortuous artery that collateralizes into the left main system and supplies the entire left coronary artery system. The left main coronary origin was from the pulmonary artery. CTA confirmed the same findings. The recommendations between cardiology and Cardio Thoracic surgery were to maximize medical therapy including beta blockers and diuresis and close follow up due to the lack of myocardial ischemia, severe valvular disease or heart failure.
Discussion
ALCAPA is a very rare condition in which the left main coronary artery originates on the pulmonary artery. The decreased flow into the left coronary arteries due to coronary artery steal from the low pulmonary artery resistance leads to ischemia and infarction of the myocardial tissue an usually is lethal if is not corrected as an infant [5]. The infant type of ALCAPA is considered to be very fatal if untreated with a 1-year mortality of approximately 90% [3]. Infants commonly present with failure to thrive, breathing difficulties, irritability, and distress while crying or eating. The adult type of ALCAPA is related to sudden cardiac death and symptoms of ischemia, mitral valve regurgitation, and left ventricular dysfunction [1,2]. The treatment of the ALCAPA infant type is absolutely surgically with either two-coronary system coronary button transfer, Takeuchi procedure (trans- pulmonary baffling), coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) combined with ligation of the anomalous left coronary artery [1,2]. ALCAPA Adult type treatment is sometimes controversial, although the preferred approach is surgical including CABG combined with anomalous left coronary artery ligation and patch of the pulmonary artery [1,2]. This approach should only be considered if the patient adult has or develops evidence of ischemia, severe mitral regurgitation or heart failure secondary to a significant shunt and volume overload [1]. Currently there are no guidelines or gold standard management for patients with adult form of ALCAPA that present with minimal to non-disease of the myocardium? How can we monitor the disease course and possibly risk stratify patients for possible complications? Is there a screening benefit for patients with high probability of ALCAPA? How much real benefit does the surgical intervention really offers to this patient’s population group? What type of conduit is appropriate if CABG planned vein or double mammary. This case raises questions regarding the management of this rare congenital coronary anomaly.
Figure 1: Coronary obtained with a single RCA injection showing a tortuous and dilated RCA (Black Arrow) as well as an equally tortuous and dilated left coronary system (White Arrow). Contrast reaches the main pulmonary artery because of the pathologic steal phenomenon (Yellow Arrow). Figure 2: Chest CT. Evidencing opcification within the left coronary artery. Retrograde filling of left coronary artery circulation. Figure 3: 3-D CT Angiogram. RCA with a large number of collaterals feedinf the left coronary. Left coronary artery emerges from pulmonary artery trunk. Figure 4: Coronary CT. Anomalous left coronary artery originating from the pulomoary artery.
References
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